Term Definition

Foodweb A diagram which shows the interactions between a community of species

Foodchain Shows trophic relationships, showing which organisms eats which organisms
and shows the flow of energy from producers

Trophic Level The position an organism occupies in a food chain

State one reason why the highest trophic level has a smaller population
- Highest trophic level received less energy as energy is lost at each level

State the initial energy source of a food chain

- Sun

Describe what is meant by a food chain using an example

- Food chain shows the feeding relationship between species
- Arrows show path of energy flow in an ecosystem
- Oak leaves -> Snail -> Hedgehog -> Fox

Describe what is meant by a food chain and a food web

- food chain shows transfer of nutrients
- Trophic level to the next (examples)
- Between different trophic levels
- Starting with a producer
- Followed by two levels of consumers
- Food web is the branched interaction of multiple food chains
- Using producers as a source
- Transferring nutrients to consumers from different food chains
- Same consumer could be at different trophic levels in a food web

Outline the importance of plants to population of other organisms in a

community
- Light is the initial source of energy for almost all communities
- Plants absorb light and use it in photosynthesis
- Plants produce food
- Plants are the main producers in most communities
- Energy flows along food chains
- First consumers eat producers
- Second consumer eats first consumers that have eaten producers
- Plants produce oxygen
- Oxygen is needed for cell respiration by many organisms
- Dead plants are available to saprotrophs
- Plants provide a habitat for other organisms
Outline how the energy flow through food chains limits their length
- Only 10% of energy can pass from one trophic level to the next
- Energy is released by respiration and lost as heat
- Energy losses due to uneaten parts
- Not enough energy for later stages of a food chain

Describe how energy flows through and is used by organisms in

ecosystems
- Producers obtain energy from sun
- Food contains energy
- Consumers obtain energy from other organisms
- Energy released by respiration
- ATP produced
- ATP used for movement
- Less energy available at each trophic level

Explain how energy enters and flows through ecosystems

- Light energy is the initial energy source
- Producers change light energy into chemical energy
- Producing carbohydrates
- Organic compounds used for energy
- Compounds pass as food along trophic levels
- Cellular respiration releases energy as ATP from food
- Energy is lost as heat
- Only 10% of energy is passed to the next trophic level
- Energy lost when organisms are not fully eaten by the next trophic level
- Energy lost in urine
- Decomposers remove energy from bodies
- Energy is not recycled

Explain the differences in the way energy and nutrients are transferred
within ecosystems
- Energy can enter and leave the ecosystem
- Energy is not recycled
- Energy is supplied in the form of light
- Light energy is converted into chemical energy
- Energy flows through the food chains
- Most is lost as heat
- Efficiency of conversion is typically 10%

- Nutrients are usually recycled

- Plants absorb nutrients through their roots
- Animals obtain nutrients by feeding
- Nutrients returned to environment by death
- Saprotrophs are essential in recycling
- Nutrients can be supplied by using fertilisers
Discuss reasons why the levels of a pyramid of energy differs in size
- Shows energy lost from bast to top of pyramid
- Energy released through cell respiration
- Not all tissues are eaten

Describe what is shown in pyramids of energy

- Pyramid of energy shows the flow of energy from one trophic level to the next
- Units of pyramids of energy are kJm-2yr-1
- Bar width is proportional to the energy stored in that trophic level
- The lowest trophic level is producers
- Second level is primary consumers
- Third level is secondary consumers
- Only 10% of energy is passed onto the next level
- Energy is related in all respiration
- Energy stored in the trophic level decreases as you go up each level
- Pyramid shows that there is a limit to the length of food chains